PostGame Thread OFFICIAL POSTGAME THREAD: Patriots Beat Bills 23-20

[Bill Lee]

So how are we feeling about the Pats now? All offseason we heard this team has a bottom tier roster from posters and some in the media to Chris Collinsworth gassing them up at the end of the game saying they have a bunch of players. All offseason I said the NFL isn't what you think it is and we've seen many teams already imploding.

The next few weeks will give us a better idea of whether they will make the playoffs or not. This will be their 2nd chance to beat up on mediocre teams which they should've done against LV and Pittsburgh. I will be shocked if they aren't at least 6-3 before they play at Tamp Bay.

On the flip side, I'd be pissed and concerned if I were a Bills fan. Maybe the GM will walk back his statement of not needing a WR as they were clearly lacking Sunday night.

My $0.02: We'll see a lot about where this team's executives think this team is at based on how they handle losing their 2nd running back. If they feel it's important to be a playoff contender and it's within striking distance for the team when they do a top-to-bottom review, they'll make an aggressive move. If they feel this is a developmental year they'll try to patch over the problem without spending much draft capital or future cap space. And in turn this will help guide how I feel about the team.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Pape]

official gamebook

https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/patriots/wccwxe1rdaerjbrubdfz.pdf

 

[UGAPatsfan]

On the run game…Campbell and Wilson are rookies so I’m not shocked that run blocking is actually the weaker part of their games…weight room should help.

What I am annoyed with is how average-at best- Onwenu has looked in general. Really need him to be a stud at that salary and he just isn’t.

Not sure if they can dump his salary next year, but I would if I could.

 

[TommyD4207]

On the run game…Campbell and Wilson are rookies so I’m not shocked that run blocking is actually the weaker part of their games…weight room should help.

What I am annoyed with is how average-at best- Onwenu has looked in general. Really need him to be a stud at that salary and he just isn’t.

Not sure if they can dump his salary next year, but I would if I could.

This is why I want them to hold on to their draft picks. They're going to need a right tackle as well, unless they really think Bryant's the guy.

 

[dliverey44]

First game indoors on a fast track, I'm thinking the NO game is when see Henderson rip off some big plays.

Part of the issue is our OL is not run blocking very well currently

 

[UGAPatsfan]

This is why I want them to hold on to their draft picks. They're going to need a right tackle as well, unless they really think Bryant's the guy.

Also possibly a right guard…can save a LOT of $$ by trading onwenu

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Part of the issue is our OL is not run blocking very well currently

Oh I agree 100%, run blocking has been a little subpar.
That said, I'm calling it now, there will some plays designed to get him in space on Sunday, and he's going to rip off a couple huge plays on that fast turf.

 

[TommyD4207]

Part of the issue is our OL is not run blocking very well currently

It's tough, because they want to zone run, and the left side of the line is athletic enough to do it, and the right side of the line runs in cement.

I think they want to get out on the perimeter some more in this one. If you tire out that defensive line of the Saints, they're done for. That's why I think this is more of a Henderson game.

 

[n1997y]

The most impressive thing to me is that Maye is already this advanced with reading/adjusting to coverage and he’s still only 23 years old having played 17 games total. Imagine how proficient he becomes in a year, three years, ten years.

Might be this:

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Also possibly a right guard…can save a LOT of $$ by trading onwenu

$25M cap hit next year, $7.5 dead cap hit.
He better restructure, or he will be sent packing me thinks.

 

[Water Boy]

Good God why

Aurora Borregales.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Huckleberry1]

Bradbury's play has been a revelation. He has reinvented himself here, I don't think any of us expected this level of play out of him. When he was signed the reaction was largely 'Okay he's adequate until the position can be upgraded.' Instead he's outright killing it

I agree, I think his work and Marrone's coaching have him playing the best he has in years.

 

[dliverey44]

It's tough, because they want to zone run, and the left side of the line is athletic enough to do it, and the right side of the line runs in cement.

I think they want to get out on the perimeter some more in this one. If you tire out that defensive line of the Saints, they're done for. That's why I think this is more of a Henderson game.

Thats a fair point, but I keep coming back to his poor pass pro. That was something that he was great at in college and honestly Maye is more valuable than Hendo, so I get him not getting a ton of run. I hope your right though about him having a breakout.

 

[Ross12]

They’re 2-0 against Buffalo and Miami, and the only team they haven’t played yet are the Jets, who are 0-5 on the season.

Yeah, I’d say the meme fits.

 

[Triumph]

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[Triumph]

 

[Wozzy]

Part of the issue is our OL is not run blocking very well currently

I think this is a multitiered issue IMO.

Someone recently posted a stat, not sure if it was here or the other Patsfans site, that TE's and RB's especially had allowed many of the sacks... which if we're wondering why Rhamondre has nine lives despite all the fumbles, him being the best pass blocker has ensured the team's need to lean on him.

These fumbles also effect the team in another way, very often we could see the run game starting to get going... then fumble... it killed drives and probably made Josh tentative to run the ball. It killed any momentum built up on time consuming drives that otherwise had opposing defenses on their heels.

Another aspect of this has been the evolution of Drake Maye, we watched in game one where he held the ball and repeatedly stepped up into the pocket to take the sack... he was holding the ball an awfully long time. This isn't unusual, if you look at Tom Brady's first two years as a starter he had the highest sack percentages of his career. Young QB's hold the ball too long, they take unnecessary sacks when they should just throw it away.

Last night's game the offense itself looked ill prepared to play the Bills and it took until the second half for them to finally find some footing. Josh wasn't calling a great game in the first half, there were spurts of good mixed in with a lot of bad and predictability.

So yeah, the offensive line needs to play better, the TE's and RB's need to play better, Drake needs to do a better job getting rid of the ball sooner and McDaniels needs to call some better plays. In short... the entire offense needs to improve.

 

[dliverey44]

Another aspect of this has been the evolution of Drake Maye, we watched in game one where he held the ball and repeatedly stepped up into the pocket to take the sack... he was holding the ball an awfully long time. This isn't unusual, if you look at Tom Brady's first two years as a starter he had the highest sack percentages of his career. Young QB's hold the ball too long, they take unnecessary sacks when they should just throw it away.

I was actually about to post about this and his lousy sack avoidance/pocket awareness. I don't know if its PTSD from last year or not but he doesn't have a good feel of the pocket which makes his efficiency that much more impressive. The OL is not perfect but is pass blocking pretty well, but Maye tends to leave pockets when they are clean and moves into trouble. Once he figures that out and he will (should improve with experience), he will be a menace.

Last night's game the offense itself looked ill prepared to play the Bills and it took until the second half for them to finally find some footing. Josh wasn't calling a great game in the first half, there were spurts of good mixed in with a lot of bad and predictability.

So yeah, the offensive line needs to play better, the TE's and RB's need to play better, Drake needs to do a better job getting rid of the ball sooner and McDaniels needs to call some better plays. In short... the entire offense needs to improve.

I agree that they did not look good in the 1st half, but after watching the game again I think that McD calls things early to set up things for later. Maye is a quick learner, in the 2nd half there were a couple of plays that he made that he had missed in the 1st half. You are dead on about looking unprepared, thank god for the defense keeping the Bills wrapped up for the most part.

Talking about defense, Zak Kuhr needs some flowers because he called a very good game. There were still some calls that made me wonder what the **** he was doing, but mostly it was a good called game.